Stay Read Online Free PDF Page B

it—in a long time. Guess I’m out of practice.”
    He pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around my waist and settling me between his legs before nuzzling the side of my neck. “Guess we’ll have to get you back into shape.”
     
    ***
     
    Beep boop beep! Beep boop beep! The familiar, if annoying, Skype ringtone sounded from my computer across the room. Grabbing my wine glass, I climbed off my comfy couch and made my way over to answer the call. Clicking the little green phone on screen, I turned and walked back to the coffee table.
    “Charlie?” Evan’s voice filtered through my speakers, tinny and a little fuzzy, but still somehow managing to send shivers down my spine.
    “I’m here,” I called over my shoulder. “Forgot the bottle.” When I sat down at the kitchen table currently serving as my desk, I could see his eyebrow shoot up.
    “Have a bad day?”
    If you call shoving a tape recorder into the face of a grieving mother who just lost her child a bad day, sure. “ Just the job getting to me.” I leaned my elbow on the table and laid my head in my hand. Wouldn’t be winning any awards for sexiness tonight, but if he liked me with my dragon breath, he’d like me slouched over. Frankly, I was out of fucks to give.
    Something crashed in the background and I heard someone apologizing. Evan rolled his eyes and raised his hands in what I assumed was an “it’s fine” gesture, then pointed at the computer. “On Skype with my girl. Do you mind?”
    “You got a girl? No fuckin’ way!” The deep male voice shouted before I heard what sounded like a stampeding elephant. “Lemme see her! Is she hot? I bet she’s hot.” The room behind Evan spun as his roommate grabbed the computer. A large tattooed guy with short dark hair filled the screen. He looked at the computer for a second, then glanced over at Evan. “Goddamn, Rodriguez, you hit the fuckin’ jackpot! Is she a model?” Looking back at me, he asked, “Are you?”
    It was difficult not to smile at the compliment, even with the interruption of our Skype call. “No, I’m not. But thanks for thinking that. I’m actually a reporter.”
    The wrestler’s eyes widened. “A reporter? Evan, bro, you’re sleeping with the enemy!” Just as I was opening my mouth to say something, he cracked up. “Kidding! I think it’s great this dope found someone. Now maybe you’ll distract him enough, the big boss will realize it’s time for me to have the belt.”
    The guy toppled over when Evan shoved him out of the way. “Never gonna happen. Now get outta here. I want to spend some quality time with my girlfriend before I have to listen to you snore all night.”
    “I do not snore, fucker!”
    Evan rolled his eyes. “Sure you don’t, Keith. And you don’t travel with your childhood blankie, either.”
    I heard the door open. “It’s my good luck token, you dick!” It slammed as I assumed he stormed out of the room.
    My jaw dropped when Evan started laughing. “Didn’t you just get into a fight with your friend?”
    “Nah, we always fuck with each other. He’ll probably bring pie when he comes back ’cause he knows I can’t resist. It means extra time at the gym, but fuck it. Apple pie is always worth the extra cardio—even if I loathe running more than anything on this planet.”
    I squinted at him, pretending to look hard at something. “Take your shirt off.”
    His laughter stopped cold. “Huh?”
    “You heard me. Take your shirt off.”
    He took no time in whipping it off and tossing it to where I assumed the bed was. “Okay, what do you want me to do now?”
    My mouth watered at the mere sight of all that exposed flesh. I’d resisted watching any of the televised shows because I didn’t want to risk every pair of panties I own getting soaked through at the sight of him in those little wrestling Speedo things. “Stand up. Turn around slowly.”
    He did, and I almost fainted. Jeans low slung, I could see the V of his muscles; my